Eyes on the Prize
A Short-eared Owl fixes its gaze on a vole moving through the grasses of an Illinois prairie, fully committed once the hunt begins.
Field note
Female Short-eared Owls are normally reluctant to leave the nest. When forced to flush, they may defecate on their eggs—a behavior thought to help repel predators or mask the scent of the nest with a strong odor. (Source: All About Birds)
